Council Chairman Ernie Martin voted no on Bill 38, but only because the bill would delay the current ban on plastic bags by six months to Jan. 1, 2016. Council members Ikaika Anderson and Ann Kobayashi votes yes with reservations.

Under a plastic bag ban passed by the council in April 2012, biodegradable plastic bags and recyclable paper bags could still be used by retailers when the law goes into effect on July 1, 2015.

Now Councilman Breene Harimoto wants plastic biodegradable bags added to the ban, claiming they remain intact for 90 days or more and their fragments can harm wildlife. Harimoto's effort is being supported by environmentalists, some of whom testified before the council.

Jennifer Milholen, of Styrophobia, said biodegradable plastic bags never really break down and even when they're no longer visible, microscopic bits are still present.

"They require a very large amount of heat and pressure in order to break down practically and we don't have those composting facilities currently on Hawaii," she said.

However food retailers, suppliers and distributors say if biodegradable plastic bags are good enough for other cities, they should be good enough for Oahu. Lauren Zirbel, of the Hawaii Food Industry Association, pointed to labeling issued by the Biodegradable Products Institute in New York, which certifies whether something can be composted. She urged the council to adopt the standard as part of the island's pending ban on plastic bags.

"We think that's a solution that everybody can support and get behind," said Zirbel. "It's a nationally recognized standard (and) it's used in very environmentally friendly cities like San Francisco and Seattle."

A merchant who produces plastic bags at his Aiea factory supports the BPI standard and claims adding biodegradable plastic bags to Oahu's ban could come at the expense of jobs.

"There's a lot of opportunity for growth in these bio-products if the council allows for it," said Adrian Hong, general manager of Island Plastic Bags Inc. "We would be hiring more folks (and) looking at buying new equipment."

Grocery stores say paper bags are more expensive than biodegradable plastic bags, and according to a study by the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University reusable bags can be a breeding ground for dangerous food-borne bacteria.

Harimoto said he looks forward to further debate on the bill as it goes to the Committee on Public Works and Sustainability.

"I think this bill warrants much more discussion," he said.

The Big Island and Maui County already have complete bans on all types of plastic bags. The Maui ban has been in effect since January 11, 2011, while the Big Island ban has been in place since January 17, 2013.

Biodegradable bags might not make the cut... as of today ... the Honolulu City Council is considering a complete ban on plastic bags at grocery stores and other businesses. As KITV4's Andrew Pereira explains, the proposed ban hinges on whether "biodegradable" bags truly disappear. 11 34 44 108-112 128 Buy it and bag it. It's a decade's old convenience. But now there's a push by the Honolulu City Council to ban all plastic bags on Oahu, even those labeled biodegradable. JENNIFER MILHOLEN: "THEY REQUIRE A CERTAIN... A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF HEAT AND PRESSURE IN ORDER TO BREAK DOWN PRACTICALLY AND WE DON'T HAVE THOSE COMPOSTING FACILITIES CURRENTLY ON HAWAII." But food retailers, suppliers and distributors say if biodegradable plastic bags are good enough for other cities, they should be good enough for Oahu. They point to labeling issued by the Biodegradable Products Institute in New York which certifies whether something can be composted. LAUREN ZIRBEL: "WE THINK THAT'S A SOLUTION THAT EVERYBODY CAN SUPPORT AND GET BEHIND. IT'S A NATIONAL RECOGNIZED STANDARD, IT'S USED IN VERY ENVIRONMENTAL LY FRIENDLY CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO AND SEATTLE." ADRIAN HONG: "THERE ARE NO REAL STANDARDS RIGHT NOW FOR BIODEGRADABLE, NO INDUSTRY WIDE STANDARDS. BUT THERE ARE INDUSTRY WIDE STANDARDS FOR COMPOSTABLE AND BPI'S BEEN A HUGE PART OF ACTUALLY DECIDING WHAT IS COMPOSTABLE." Those who oppose biodegradable plastic bags say they still stick around too long ... 90 days or more to breakdown. On Maui a ban on ALL plastic bags transformed the landfill from filthy to nearly flawless as documented by Maui News photographer Matthew Thayer. DEAN OTSUKI: "IF PEOPLE SEE THAT WORD BIODEGRADABLE THEY'RE GOING TO LITTER NO MATTER WHAT." So then what? Retailers say paper bags are more expensive... and the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University, found reusable bags can be a breeding ground for dangerous food-borne bacteria. BREENE HARIMOTO: "I THINK THIS BILL WARRANTS MUCH MORE DISCUSSION, SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN PASS IT OUT TODAY IN FIRST READING, GET IT INTO COMMITTEE FOR A HEALTHY DISCUSSION OF ALL THE FACTS." The proposed ban passed first reading by a vote of 8 to 1. Council chairman Ernie Martin voted no because the effective date on the bill is Jan. 1, 2016. Oahu's current ban on plastic bags, which exempts biodegradable bags, begins July 1 of